Country Boy

What is up with Billy Bob's? For years it was world-famous for showcasing country and Western acts exclusively. But things have changed. A while ago, I wrote about Bret Michaels playing there, which kind of makes sense. But now the stage of this legendary honky-tonk will be "graced" by none other than the Tiger Woods of College Rock, Darius Rucker. That's right, Hootie of Blowfish fame. A man who, to paraphrase Dave Chappelle, makes Al Roker look like Malcolm X. You may be asking, "Why no Blowfish?" I always felt like the Blowfish were holding Hootie back. He obviously has the chops to be a charismatic frontman. He's got the voice that helped propel them to NO. 1. Hootie can do it by himself, people. Blowfish songs may pander to guys who sport their ball caps backward while the hippies hacky-sack in the quad, while Rucker's got a No. 1 country tune fresh off his latest solo album, Learn to Live. And we need that music. Try and picture a world where everybody listened to The Shins and Trans Am. The thought makes me shudder. Darius Rucker throws down Saturday at Billy Bob's Texas in Fort Worth. Visit billybobstexas.com for details.
Sat., Oct. 11, 2008